Spike.



C. READ.

SPIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 0GT.11,1912.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

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enemas READ, ornnw Y'ORKL, NLY.

SPIKE.

Specification of Letters-Patent. Application filed Octolyer 11, 1912. Serial No. 725,290.

To all whom it may concern: v :Be'it known that I, CHARLiss Enema citizen of the United States, and resident of t e borough of Brooklyn, county of Queens, city and State of New York, have invented certain new a and useful Improvements in Spikes, of which the following is a specifica'tion. I

This device is intended for use in railroad construction and may be somewhat correctly called a rail fastener, although because of-its outline anda certain portion of the operation connected with its use, I prefer to call itan improved spike. Besides its cheapness this device ofi'ers many advantages over the ordinary spike,

such as increased efi ciency particularly in holding strength, ease with which a more or less permanent locking is secured, and re means of carrying out this invention.

sistance against wear or loosening by vibration. Other'advantages will be set -forth'as the specification progresses. I

The following is what I consider the best The accompanyin g of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a central vertical section, through the spike and parts operable therewith. Fig, 2 is a corres ending view though in this figurethe' spreading tool is shown in'position. Fig.3'shows a'plate that may be used in' the upper end of the device as a'clos'um.

Similar reference numerals indicate like or drawin s form apart I parts in all the 'figures'where they appear.

edge or, if an open out, should be welded,

together. I deem it advisable to reinforce the point 2 by allowing a quantity of metal to gather there, if the device is electrically.

' welded there will be no dificulty "in reinforcing the point. A short distance from the top of each of the plates or side members I have produced a rib, or deflected portion 3, for a purpose that shall appear later,

and farther down on two of the directly oposite sides I have" roducedc a window 4;

y shearing and forcing inward a tongue 5.

This tongue '5 should be somewhat'narrower Patented oe'afa'ieia than the whole width of the side from which it is produc'ed so that the side will not b toogreatly weakened. The lower end of this tongue 5 is sheared in such amanner'as to force it slightly outward as shown at 6'. I intend-that this spike shall be driven and as I .have found it diflicult to drive on the upper open end 'Z, I have provided a drive plate 8, which may be of a good gradeof steel, and which is provided with a four sided channel 9 on its under side whic'his adapted to fit over the upper edges 10 ofthe member 1. The'force of the hammer blow will be received by the upper face 11 of the member 8. Before commencing the opera tion of driving this s ike the point or lower end of the body should be passed through a square hole 12' in the washer or hol'ding down the h 'e 12 shall be of such asize that-it will frictionally. engage with the sides of the member 1 even before the projections? meet the upper side of the plate 13.

In lacing myspike in operation it is iny intention that it [Shall first be driven to the late 13, and it is my intention that depthof the iline'ld'after which the 'spreading tool shown in Fig. 2'is'insertedfand the tongues 5 areforced out intolthe position of the dotted line A. The tool is then removed and the drivin completed and when the spike is in the I ished '5 which have assumed the osition of'the dotted linesB reliably hold t e=spike secure against a possible loosening by vibration or any other means. The spreading tool before referred to consists of a plurality of jaws 20 each provided with a shoulder21 which also serve as a stop preventing the jaws from entering the member 1 to too great a depth, and a teat 22 intended to engage and bear in-the-hollow caused by the forming pf each of the spikesas one plate and one tool "may serve for a great length of time of my device not bel'ore re A. feature position the tongues essary to provide a plate 8 and tool 20 for line and t will slowly seep through the windows 4 and impregnate the wood surrounding the spike and even at some distance therefrom. If

it is found advisable I can produce a second:

series of erforations 30 in a longitudinal roughthe wall of any or all of the sides.

Modifications maybe made within the scope of the appended claims without dewith two tongues 5 but]: may use one ormore. If it is found desirable a certain portion of each side may-be omitted as shown by the dotted line 26 and this may be of a ,'certain advantage because it would allow the fibers of the wood to enter the member 1 thereby assisting in the securing of the member. The projection 3 may be formed independently .or may be entirely omitted, if omitted perforations should be provided for the teats 22. It will be found that the use of these spikes as a preservative container is extremely desirable and if I choose I ma drive a 'numbefof spikes of this or .a smal er size into the wood of the tie at different points simply; that they ma distribute their preservative throug the whole of the tie. A small metallic plate or cap ma be 'used to close the upper end of the s e after the preservative has been place therein.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A spike formed of four pyramidal side members each member being provided with an integral projection, and certain of said members provided with tongues for securing the whole as specified.

2. A spike formed with four pyramidal sides, tongues formed in certain of said sides normally arranged within the plane 4:- A spike of the character described haying a body and means in operable relation to said body and adapted to be forced outward therefrom for securing said body against displacement, a sprea r for placing in operative position the' first said means, and a driving plate reinforcing the sides of said bod and for receiving the pressure ap lied whi e the spike is being inserted all comhined as herein specified and for the purpose set forth. 0 r

X Signed at New York city, county of New York, and State of New York th1s 2Q. day of September 1912.

.OLES an.

Witnesses:

Gr. E. STEIRRETIE,

: Pnnnrs 

